Troops enter Mullaittivu; LTTE main garrison town falls

Sri Lanka Army 59 Division soldiers lead by Brigadier Nandana Udawatta have entered the LTTE's main garrison town Mullaittivu this evening (Jan 25).

According to the battlefield sources, troops of 593 Brigade lead by Lieutenant Colonel Jayantha Gunarathne have made a surprise attack across the Nanthikandal lagoon and entered the Mullaittivu town area this morning. Infantrymen of 7 Gemunu Watch (7 GW) lead by Lieutenant Colonel Chaminda Lamahewa have been in first to enter the town amid heavy terror resistance, the sources said.

The Mullaittivu town is situated in a narrow stretch of a land between Nanthikandal lagoon and the Indian Ocean. The town fell to the terrorists in 1996 and since then LTTE established its main military base there.

Once mop up operation completed the area will be declared liberated, the sources said.